Fifteen Taiwanese nationals allegedly linked to a phone-based extortion ring will be deported to China tomorrow, officials said yesterday.

According to Deputy National Police Commissioner Sok Phal, three Chinese police representatives arrived in Phnom Penh on Tuesday night and plan to escort the 15 Taiwanese to China today.

“They have met with Cambodian authorities and signed an agreement on their extradition to mainland China,” Phal said.

The 11 men and four women, who were arrested during a police raid on the Apsara Guesthouse, in Kampong Speu’s Chbar Morn town, had been linked to 49 Chinese extortionist mafia members arrested in Cambodia and extradited in May, Chhay Sinarit, director of the Ministry of Interior’s Internal Security Police department, said.

He said the decision to expel the 15 Taiwanese from Cambodia had been signed by Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng last Friday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]